Spine Archive: neurofibromatosis

Patients with neurofibromatosis can exhibit neurological problems caused by the disease. Others will have little to no problems. To learn more about this disorder, read below and search within Dr. Leone’s Knowledge Center.

Neurofibromatosis is a rare disorder, passed genetically. There is no known treatment or cure for the growth of these benign tumors associated with the disorder. Surgical intervention can be an option to improve patients affected heavily. However, surgery is not always the best course of action for this disorder so it’s best to determine the advantages and disadvantages of surgery beforehand.

Inspection of the patient standing upright and in forward flexion determines the presence of scoliosis or kyphosis. The skin should be examined for cutaneous lesions. Cutaneous neurofibroma, cafe au lait patches, or axillary freckles are usually present in neurofibromatosis.¹